My exterminator is coming tomorrow morning. I spent the evening cleaning my house. FOR MY EXTERMINATOR. I don't even really like him....he is kind of rude. I have actually canceled appointments before with my bug man if I didn't have time to make my bed and do the dishes. Am I crazy and just really OCD? Or are you like this too?
On another completely different note...Johnny is back in Iraq and I am slowly (yet so much quicker than the first time he left) getting back into the swing of things, my productivity level is finally rising again and I'm working on getting rid of the several pounds I put on in just a mere 14 days. I'll update you on our fabulous two-week hibernation and our miserable good-bye soon. Just hang in there with me. It has been a roller coaster of emotions for this chick. :)
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Land-Line Phones
Hi. What you are about to read could come across as bitter and/or annoyed and/or ridiculous. I'm just warning you.
When my sweet husband and I bought our first home, he wanted to make sure we had an alarm system to keep me [somewhat] protected while he was away. Well, one of the MAJOR components to getting this new alarm system set up, was a land-line. I HATE LAND-LINES. Not to mention your average person doesn't use a land-line anymore because cell phones are now literally attached to people's ears. We don't need a land-line, we don't use a land-line and I certainly didn't want to pay $30 extra a month for something I had no use for. Guess who lost that battle. Me.
The "great deal" of $35.99 a month quickly jumped to $61.99 because the only reason we were paying for that stupid land-line was for the alarm system. Dumb.
I don't even know the number to own house phone. I am dead serious! I happened to be home one day and it rang. That phone NEVER rings. I mean N-E-V-E-R-R-I-N-G-S. It actually kind of frightened me when it rang because I had no clue where it was coming from. So I answered it and the woman said, "Is Betty there?" Umm, unless you are affectionately referring to me as Betty Crocker, no, no Betty here. Then she asked, "Is this 912-893-6789" (or something like that) and I just said, "No it isn't." BUT I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT OUR NUMBER IS!!!! The number she said could have very well been our number, but I couldn't even tell you a single digit that's in it. So ridiculous.
I am definitely a little bitter about the land-line. But I am thankful for our alarm system. There have been many nights since Johnny has been gone that I have heard some weird noises but was reassured that if it was someone breaking into my home our alarm would have already woken up the entire neighborhood.
When my sweet husband and I bought our first home, he wanted to make sure we had an alarm system to keep me [somewhat] protected while he was away. Well, one of the MAJOR components to getting this new alarm system set up, was a land-line. I HATE LAND-LINES. Not to mention your average person doesn't use a land-line anymore because cell phones are now literally attached to people's ears. We don't need a land-line, we don't use a land-line and I certainly didn't want to pay $30 extra a month for something I had no use for. Guess who lost that battle. Me.
The "great deal" of $35.99 a month quickly jumped to $61.99 because the only reason we were paying for that stupid land-line was for the alarm system. Dumb.
I don't even know the number to own house phone. I am dead serious! I happened to be home one day and it rang. That phone NEVER rings. I mean N-E-V-E-R-R-I-N-G-S. It actually kind of frightened me when it rang because I had no clue where it was coming from. So I answered it and the woman said, "Is Betty there?" Umm, unless you are affectionately referring to me as Betty Crocker, no, no Betty here. Then she asked, "Is this 912-893-6789" (or something like that) and I just said, "No it isn't." BUT I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT OUR NUMBER IS!!!! The number she said could have very well been our number, but I couldn't even tell you a single digit that's in it. So ridiculous.
I am definitely a little bitter about the land-line. But I am thankful for our alarm system. There have been many nights since Johnny has been gone that I have heard some weird noises but was reassured that if it was someone breaking into my home our alarm would have already woken up the entire neighborhood.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
AAAHHHHHH......
That is a sigh of relief and complete and utter happiness. Johnny arrived home after traveling for 61 hours on Saturday afternoon. I was a total wreck, cleaning everything in sight and so anxious I couldn't stand still to save my life! My parents were there, Johnny's parents were there and his sister, brother-in-law and our two little nieces (one of which Johnny had never met!).
I have to admit I was a little nervous for our reunion and how it would be between us after being apart for six months, but now that he's home I have no clue what in the world I was worried about. It is literally like he never left! We are having a blast together and there was no adjustment period needed. It has truly reassured me that when he goes back to Iraq in two weeks that we will be fine and I know we'll be able to make it through the next 6 months.
Enjoy the several hundred pictures I've posted. My friend Chelsea is an amazing photographer and graciously agreed to come to the airport to take pictures for me. I am so thankful she was there and able to capture our sweet reunion on film :) THANKS CHELSEA!!
(Don't forget you can click on the picture to enlarge it.)
PS - As I'm sitting upstairs in the office writing this post and I can hear Johnny downstairs watching TV and laughing, and man oh man, how it makes my heart smile. I love having him home again. Life is exactly how it should be again.
I couldn't stand still! Looking for him amidst all the people!
There he is!!
Johnny and Elena...she warmed right up to him again!
Johnny and our sweet new little niece, Samantha Pepper
I have to admit I was a little nervous for our reunion and how it would be between us after being apart for six months, but now that he's home I have no clue what in the world I was worried about. It is literally like he never left! We are having a blast together and there was no adjustment period needed. It has truly reassured me that when he goes back to Iraq in two weeks that we will be fine and I know we'll be able to make it through the next 6 months.
Enjoy the several hundred pictures I've posted. My friend Chelsea is an amazing photographer and graciously agreed to come to the airport to take pictures for me. I am so thankful she was there and able to capture our sweet reunion on film :) THANKS CHELSEA!!
(Don't forget you can click on the picture to enlarge it.)
PS - As I'm sitting upstairs in the office writing this post and I can hear Johnny downstairs watching TV and laughing, and man oh man, how it makes my heart smile. I love having him home again. Life is exactly how it should be again.
I couldn't stand still! Looking for him amidst all the people!
There he is!!
Johnny and Elena...she warmed right up to him again!
Johnny and our sweet new little niece, Samantha Pepper
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
He's Almost Here!
I would say within about 72 hours I should be looking at my husband's face, holding his hand and remembering how it feels to be 100% complete.
This doesn't even seem real y'all. We have been apart for so long and I have gotten so use to the distance and not being together that it kind of feels like a trick that the Army is playing on me.....they are telling me he is going to come home for two weeks...but I just can't believe it!
I am anxious, a little nervous, crazy excited and super emotional about it all. Every time I really think about what it will be like to see him for the first time in over 6 months I get choked up and teary. I always cry when I see stories on the news or in the paper about soldiers coming home and it shows couples and families reuniting (I'm tearing up right this second, oh my goodness) and now it is my reality!
Life is going to be exactly as it should be. And then we'll say goodbye again and Ranger through another 6 months of this crap. Such is life in the Army!
Everyone has asked me what we have planned for his two weeks home. And you know what? We don't really have any plans. We are going to lay in bed for as long we want and then do whatever we want to do....TOGETHER!! We had talked about going on a cruise but he said he didn't really want to vacation anywhere that was going to be HOT and SANDY. Duh Amanda, your husband is in Iraq - clue in!! Then we tossed around the idea of going away to a log cabin in the mountains for four or five days and we quickly decided against that too. We were afraid that if we took an actual trip, it would make our time together go by so much quicker.
We are going to go up to Charleston for a night and enjoy the Long Grey Line Parade at The Citadel since it's graduation weekend there. We have dinner reservations at a fancy restaurant and we're staying at the hotel downtown that we stayed at on our wedding night. Don't tell him, but I've requested the exact room from our wedding night and there will be our 1 year wedding anniversary cake (since we weren't together in February) and a bottle of champagne waiting for us! :)
He is actually down at the flight line now getting his departure time. From Iraq, he'll go to Kuwait for several, several hours and receive the rest of his itinerary. It could very well be Friday evening, but I'm thinking it will be Saturday sometime before he arrives in Savannah. I just can't hardly stand it I'm so excited. I wish it would hurry up and get here, I'm running out of patience!
This doesn't even seem real y'all. We have been apart for so long and I have gotten so use to the distance and not being together that it kind of feels like a trick that the Army is playing on me.....they are telling me he is going to come home for two weeks...but I just can't believe it!
I am anxious, a little nervous, crazy excited and super emotional about it all. Every time I really think about what it will be like to see him for the first time in over 6 months I get choked up and teary. I always cry when I see stories on the news or in the paper about soldiers coming home and it shows couples and families reuniting (I'm tearing up right this second, oh my goodness) and now it is my reality!
Life is going to be exactly as it should be. And then we'll say goodbye again and Ranger through another 6 months of this crap. Such is life in the Army!
Everyone has asked me what we have planned for his two weeks home. And you know what? We don't really have any plans. We are going to lay in bed for as long we want and then do whatever we want to do....TOGETHER!! We had talked about going on a cruise but he said he didn't really want to vacation anywhere that was going to be HOT and SANDY. Duh Amanda, your husband is in Iraq - clue in!! Then we tossed around the idea of going away to a log cabin in the mountains for four or five days and we quickly decided against that too. We were afraid that if we took an actual trip, it would make our time together go by so much quicker.
We are going to go up to Charleston for a night and enjoy the Long Grey Line Parade at The Citadel since it's graduation weekend there. We have dinner reservations at a fancy restaurant and we're staying at the hotel downtown that we stayed at on our wedding night. Don't tell him, but I've requested the exact room from our wedding night and there will be our 1 year wedding anniversary cake (since we weren't together in February) and a bottle of champagne waiting for us! :)
He is actually down at the flight line now getting his departure time. From Iraq, he'll go to Kuwait for several, several hours and receive the rest of his itinerary. It could very well be Friday evening, but I'm thinking it will be Saturday sometime before he arrives in Savannah. I just can't hardly stand it I'm so excited. I wish it would hurry up and get here, I'm running out of patience!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Quelf & Sisters Weekend
Raise your hand if you've heard of the game Quelf. I'm a newbie to the Quelf world...but I am loving it! My cousin introduced me to the game and I've never looked back! I think you have to have a certain personality and sense of humor to truly find this game as enjoyable as I do, so if you like this game....we could totally be friends in real life.
My sisters and I recently had a "sisters weekend" in Savannah at my house and we had so much fun. Friday night we played Quelf...and man, did we have fun! There was lots of laughing going on...the kind where you aren't even making a noise you are laughing so hard!
It is the most random game I've ever played but will provide hours of laughter and enjoyment. You basically draw cards (after rolling the die and moving spaces) which will prompt you to do some random, crazy act. For example, I had to go to the bathroom and wrap my head in toilet paper to become a mummy for the rest of the game.
My sister had to sing a nursery rhyme like a grizzlied old man....hilarious I tell you. My other sister had to rap a song to her fellow "inmates" while her knees were glued together, she had no top lip and she was covered in tar and feathers. Like I said....RANDOM!!!
I come from a big family, so get-togethers, family vacations and holidays are spent usually playing cards or board games. Those are some of the fondest memories I have of growing up because we were all together as a family. I still love it today when we can get together and laugh. And I don't mean giggling....I mean laughing till you cry!
So anyways, check out the game. I hope you love it as much as I do and make some awesome memories in the process!
My sisters and I recently had a "sisters weekend" in Savannah at my house and we had so much fun. Friday night we played Quelf...and man, did we have fun! There was lots of laughing going on...the kind where you aren't even making a noise you are laughing so hard!
It is the most random game I've ever played but will provide hours of laughter and enjoyment. You basically draw cards (after rolling the die and moving spaces) which will prompt you to do some random, crazy act. For example, I had to go to the bathroom and wrap my head in toilet paper to become a mummy for the rest of the game.
My sister had to sing a nursery rhyme like a grizzlied old man....hilarious I tell you. My other sister had to rap a song to her fellow "inmates" while her knees were glued together, she had no top lip and she was covered in tar and feathers. Like I said....RANDOM!!!
I come from a big family, so get-togethers, family vacations and holidays are spent usually playing cards or board games. Those are some of the fondest memories I have of growing up because we were all together as a family. I still love it today when we can get together and laugh. And I don't mean giggling....I mean laughing till you cry!
So anyways, check out the game. I hope you love it as much as I do and make some awesome memories in the process!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Deployment and Johnny Update
Johnny is doing awesome. We've hit the 6 month mark and y'all, I'm about out of patience with this deployment and I know Johnny is too. The weather has primarily been fairly chilly there and out of nowhere, it turned HOT one day last week and he's been sweating every since. All Johnny can do is laugh right now because he knows that it is just a taste of what is yet to come...say...mid-July. OH MAN. Let's just say there is a good possibility that 90 degrees will seem cool compared to the temperatures they'll be living in.
He is staying extremely busy with work which is a good thing because it doesn't give him much down time to be homesick or realize how crappy the circumstances really are, yet it keeps him pretty stressed out and annoyed most of the time as well.
His biggest complaint is really just that he can't get away from everyone. He is completely surrounded all of the time 24/7 with the same people. He tries to take a break from work and goes to the gym to work out and the same people are there, he goes and eats and there they all are again, he takes a shower and it's the same people in the bath area....you get the idea. Besides locking himself in his room all day, which typically just leaves him homesick and lonely and he never really has the opportunity to do that anyways, he is always surrounded by the same people. He tried to get me to understand the feeling by making me imagine going into work in the morning and then NEVER LEAVING for a year. Thinking about that literally makes my chest tighten up immediately. SO - I think besides that one aspect....he is doing awesome....and even with that he is handling it all really well.
He has remained an amazing husband even while halfway across the world at war. He makes every effort to call every day if he can, even if it is just to say hi and I love you. We're not naive to think that this distance, the stress of being at war and the amount of time he's gone couldn't affect our marriage....but we are doing everything we can to stay connected, and committed to keeping our marriage strong and focused on God, and remain crazy, madly, deeply in love.
He should hopefully be heading home around the first part of May for his 2-week R&R. We couldn't be more excited! The thought of seeing him for the first time in 7 months literally brings tears to my eyes. I hope our two weeks together will renew us enough to make it through the remaining 5 months. I just want this deployment to be over. Enough is enough already!
Here are a few pictures of my studly soldier...Enjoy!
This picture was pre-promotion to Captain!
The white stuff on the ground is C4...they packed it in
there by hand and are getting ready to blow stuff up!
He is staying extremely busy with work which is a good thing because it doesn't give him much down time to be homesick or realize how crappy the circumstances really are, yet it keeps him pretty stressed out and annoyed most of the time as well.
His biggest complaint is really just that he can't get away from everyone. He is completely surrounded all of the time 24/7 with the same people. He tries to take a break from work and goes to the gym to work out and the same people are there, he goes and eats and there they all are again, he takes a shower and it's the same people in the bath area....you get the idea. Besides locking himself in his room all day, which typically just leaves him homesick and lonely and he never really has the opportunity to do that anyways, he is always surrounded by the same people. He tried to get me to understand the feeling by making me imagine going into work in the morning and then NEVER LEAVING for a year. Thinking about that literally makes my chest tighten up immediately. SO - I think besides that one aspect....he is doing awesome....and even with that he is handling it all really well.
He has remained an amazing husband even while halfway across the world at war. He makes every effort to call every day if he can, even if it is just to say hi and I love you. We're not naive to think that this distance, the stress of being at war and the amount of time he's gone couldn't affect our marriage....but we are doing everything we can to stay connected, and committed to keeping our marriage strong and focused on God, and remain crazy, madly, deeply in love.
He should hopefully be heading home around the first part of May for his 2-week R&R. We couldn't be more excited! The thought of seeing him for the first time in 7 months literally brings tears to my eyes. I hope our two weeks together will renew us enough to make it through the remaining 5 months. I just want this deployment to be over. Enough is enough already!
Here are a few pictures of my studly soldier...Enjoy!
This picture was pre-promotion to Captain!
The white stuff on the ground is C4...they packed it inthere by hand and are getting ready to blow stuff up!
Sunday, April 12, 2009
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